Oh wow, I was notified abt the thread so I thought I oughta take a look. Tanx for the generous heartfelt support fellas!
Izzed, I'd like to share with you my response to your comments.
Tone, a subjective thing and often frustratingly mind boggling ting is experienced, described and acquired in so many ways. The simple comparison between stock pedal models eg. comparing a TS9 against a SD1 and a Maxon will spark off endless debates about which is better, which is livelier, which is more tubish, which is more vintagy, happening or whatever... point is when we add the pricetag issue many are quick to arrive at their own conclusions and assumptions based on their current state of different ideals applied to a said product's value against it's tonal value. Now let's add an array of boutique pedals into the comparison...then let's add the mod pedals... Ok now let's get a bunch of guitar players who'll come with different axes loaded with different pups and play with different hand techniques and choice of picks. Let's not forget the choice of amps, speaker cabs... And! the way each player dials in his own gain and tone on the amp. It is IMHO that no 2 player given the same set of gear will be the same. Each player may be happy with their own setups but the audience/clients will percieve differently yet again. Hell, often even the retailer himself will form his own conclusions.
The service that I provide does not come with self claims that my work is better than anybody else. I don't think I've ever heard Analogman, Keeley or any self respecting person foolishly claiming likewise too. If my mods work for you then great and if they don't, I'll do my best to sit in with you to hear you out and offer fine tuning tweaks or suggest other methods and gears to arrive closer to your unique tonal intention. This is no longer a replica but a customized service. I'll pop in a coupla real Keeleys and stock ones in the process. Sometimes in this tonal quest for a client a stock pedal can nail it, sometimes a boutiqe, sometimes a replica and sometimes a customized one.
Taking great pride in what I do and offer to my peers is my commitment to help anybody who's dedicated in their own tone quest journey. Quality is determined by one's own state of awareness. Freedom of choice is eventually yours to decide and that is always a beautiful thing.
Izzed, I'll be glad if you found something that suits and inspires you in your guitar tone quest. However, if ever in doubt you are always welcome to come by one of these days if you can.
Regards